10 things we love about braces

If you’ve visited our website before, or follow us on social media, you may have already gathered that we have a big thing for braces. From their shiny customised brackets to their heat-activated wires, we love how far they’ve come in the last decade, and most importantly, the life-changing results they can achieve for our patients.

We could talk all day about the different reasons we love braces, but for now, here are our top 10:

1. Braces protect your teeth

One of the things we love most about braces is that they’re kind to teeth. Unlike some alternative teeth straightening treatments, braces simply reposition your own natural teeth to create a straighter smile. Sometimes we may need to carefully reshape the sides of your teeth to get the best results from your orthodontic treatment, but it’s far less invasive than the preparation needed for veneers or crowns.

2. Straight teeth are easier to clean

As well as looking great, straight teeth are usually easier to keep clean and function (bite together) more effectively. If your teeth are crooked and overlap, that will create areas that you’ll find hard to reach with a toothbrush, proving the ideal spot for plaque to accumulate. Plaque, as we know, needs to be removed daily to avoid tooth decay and the formation of tartar.

3. Braces come in all shapes and sizes

Even as dentists it’s hard to foster too much enthusiasm for the appearance of train track braces, but with the latest ‘invisible’ braces it’s a different story. We can now offer our patients inconspicuous fixed braces with clear brackets or even clear, removable aligners that can be taken out for eating and drinking.

4. We can even hide them behind your teeth

If you’re really looking for a discreet way to straighten your teeth, we can even fit your braces behind your teeth! Lingual braces cleverly attach to the lingual (tongue side) of your teeth. As well as being hidden from sight, they offer all the benefits of a fixed brace, so they’re great at straightening teeth.

5. They’re not just for children

Thanks to the success of ‘invisible’ braces the target market for orthodontic treatment has completely changed. We’ve now straightened the smiles of more than 6,000 adults – many of whom missed out on treatment when they were younger or experienced orthodontic relapse from not wearing retainers.

6. Braces keep improving

With so much interest in braces, manufacturers are investing time and money into making them better. Recent innovations include digital impressions, as opposed to trays of gloopy alginate, and custom-made brackets that give your clinician precise control. We can’t wait to see what happens over the next few years.

7. Our patients love them

Braces are now so good that we don’t even need to convince our patients of their merits. There’s so much information available online, that many of our patients come to see us knowing exactly the type of brace they want. And best of all, they love them even more when they’re taken off and they see their new smile.

8. Braces are a great talking point

The majority of our patients find that braces are a great conversation starter and the social stigma surrounding them is quickly disappearing. You’ll probably find that friends and colleagues are keen to find out more about your experience, particularly if you’ve opted for a treatment they may not have heard of before, like lingual braces. Unsurprisingly, quite a few of our patients are recommended to us by someone already in treatment.

9. The results can last a lifetime

Unlike veneers, the results of orthodontic treatment should last a lifetime. Once your teeth are straight and your braces come off, we’ll give you fixed and/or removable retainers to keep your teeth in their new position. You’ll need to wear your retainers indefinitely as unfortunately without them your teeth will have a natural tendency to move back to where they started. This is why it’s so important to replace your retainer if you lose or break it.

10. They’re finally getting their moment in the spotlight

Braces haven’t always attracted positive attention in the media, so it’s great to see them taking centre stage for all the right reasons. Thanks to celebrity fans like Cheryl Cole, Dakota Fanning and Katherine Heigl, braces are regularly hitting the headlines. Just recently Invisalign – a popular clear brace – was in the news celebrating its 5 millionth patient!

For more information on our brilliant braces, browse our website, or get in touch to arrange a free no-obligation consultation*.